Apollo Bio Finn fins - impressions after unusual tests

A long time ago, we had the idea to test and check the capabilities of the Japanese brand Apollo fins. However, it was not going to be the usual tests, with a cycle of two dives and a report on how we swam. In this case, we observed their behaviour over 24 months!

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The different models had different applications and underwater behaviour, but all had a few things in common (quality, attention to detail) that are typical of this manufacturer.

At first glance, the fins are characterised by very solid, Japanese manufacturing confirmed by the “Made in Japan” inscription on every component of the fin. What is more, professionalism and serious approach to copyright issues is confirmed by the patent number placed on the fin. So we are not dealing with another copy of a copy of a copy, as it happens in many cases.

When viewed from above, the fin is very aesthetically pleasing. No burrs or imperfections of any kind. Fastening the springs to the fin is made in an extremely durable way with stainless steel plates and screws (obviously signed “Made in Japan”).

The springs themselves are very durable. After 2 years of use there are still no signs of stretching. The same goes for the spring cover with the handle, which makes it easy to remove the fin from the leg and hang it up.

The shoe of the fin is exceptionally “friendly”. During removal due to the rather large opening on the toe side and the interesting expanding profile of the shoe last. Thanks to this, no shoe sucks or rubs into the fin. Most divers know how tiring it can be to try and pull off a sucked in fin after an hour of diving… With Apollo fins this problem does not occur.

The softest fins were the worst of all models. They are much too soft for diving in equipment used by technical divers, or people diving in a similar configuration. You need some force to “push” the diver in a dryer with a twine. Nevertheless, they are ideal for scuba diving with a single cylinder. The split fins make effective frog diving impossible (each blade of the fin flies in its own direction), but classically they are simply great.

All divers chose the split hard as the best of the tested. The fins received very good feedback from people starting their diving adventure. Due to the fact that the fins follow the movement of the leg rather than the leg following the resistance of the fin, the fins do not cause problems for people who are not very good swimmers and good swimmers can get a lot out of them… a lot!

Most experienced divers get the impression that the fin is inefficient during the first moves (getting used to the frog), however, after the first few moves and returning to classic leg movement, the fin surprises with its efficiency and lack of fatigue.

Short “Rangers” fins:

Why are these flippers (Rangers) so short? – asks the recruit of an old commando during diving training
Son – answers the old-timer – a good commando without fins swims faster than Phelps, and in these fins he gets into the slide…
Well, but if he had longer fins, he would swim faster,” tries the young recruit.
There are planes for flying, kid…
– short cuts an old commando

That’s right. The flippers aroused a lot of interest, especially among old divers who do basically everything in the water. Youngsters couldn’t cope with them at all, but experienced divers look at them with envy because:

• you can dive in them
• you can swim in them
• you can run in them!
• you can squat, kneel, do flips…
• have an anti-slip sole (burrs pointing in all directions) thanks to which they do not slip on mud, snow or ice

A digression from one instructor friend who took part in the tests:

“They’re probably indestructible… They don’t get tangled up in anything. And that manoeuvrability… You can just turn in any direction without the slightest problem.”

From this place I would like to thank the Mazurian team taking part in the tests, their time and willingness, as well as all those who took part in the dives, sharing their impressions and observations.